Rock-like substance.



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- Examiner A. D. NEY.

BOOK LIKE SUBSTANGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1909. 939,072, Patented Nov.2, 1909.

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vegetable substances, dirt or filth and are ALEXANDER D. N EY, OFAURORA, ILLINOIS.

ROCK-LIKE SUBSTANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed July 10, 1909. Serial No. 506,980.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER D. Nm', a citizen of the United States,residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Rock-Like Substances.of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to produce a relatively hard,compact, and solid rock-like substance, composed, in part, of earthymaterials, such as stones, pieces i of rock sla' pieces of brick orsimilar natura o'alicial mineiT-i-rzoducts, and, in part, of cement,which serves to unite the earthy mat'eTiils-Into a solid mass.

In the making of concrete, it has hitherto been the general practice, inmixing the materials, to make the mass as stiff as possible, using onlysuiiicient water to cause adherence of the materialsl together, andthereafter tamping the materials to cause the mass to be as compact aspossible in its` relatively dry condition.

In the operation of making the product of the present invention, aradically different method is followed in that an abundance of Water isemployed in order not only to permit gravity to bring the mass to asolid, compact condition, and thereby dispense with the rammingoperation, but also to provide sutlicient water for the purposes ofcrystallization. The process of forming the present product isessentially a wet process as distinguished from the relatively dryprocess employed in making concrete.

The drawing shows a piece of the present product, broken through themass to illustrate the various ingredients employed and the character ofthe completed mass.

In carrying out the present process I employ particles a of stone1 lbo'or other earthv materia w uci siou c e c eanse rom preferably graduatedis size from the largest particles the Work will permit, down toarticles Which are substantially the sizes o the particles of cement.These particles of earthy material should be used in a moist condition.since such particles W1 a sor a grea er or less amount of lwater; and itis highly desirable that thewz'il1 absorbed into the particles of earthymaterial be not Withdrawn from the water stored up in the cement, andwhich is necessary for purposes of crystallization. The stone, slag orother earthy material should preferably be used in sutiicient quantityto form the bulk of the mass, so that the cement will serve to unite theseams, but need not be used as a filler for large spacesl or cavities,which would be an expensive way of combining the materials composing themass. Furthermore, itl is desirable to use a minimum quantity of cementin order to conserve the available quantity of water for purposes ofcrystallizatioi'i. A suflicient amount of cement should be used tothoroughly cement` the seamage of the mass, the earthy particles beingrelied upon to give the necessary bulk to the mass. A suiiicientquantity of watel' should be used in the mixture to cause 1t toliquidate sufficiently to allow gravity to bring'the material to a solidmass, having within its body and stored in cells or cavities a reservesupply of water which will be drawn upon to assist in thecrystallization of the materials. When the above mass of materials isthoroughly mixed, it should be stirred in a mixing manner within theform, to cause the material to thoroughly lill the form and take on theshape of the form.

During the mixing operation, the cement will be evenly and thoroughlyspread over the surface of the stone, slag or other earthy particles ofmaterial, so that the cement Will be in position to unite in asatisfactory manner with all the exposed surface of the particles ofearthy material. If a suiiicient quantity of water has been used in themixing of the materials, a layer of water will be present on the surfaceof the materials after the mixing operation, and the mixing should becontinued in the form so long as any air bubbles appear on the surfaceof the water, which air bubbles indicate the presence of air voids. inthe body of the mass of fresh material, which should be eliminatedbefore the initial crystallization of the mass. During the progress ofcrystallization, the layer of Water on the top of the mass willgradually disap ear, uniting with the cement in the crystallizingaction.

After the mass has normally crystallized, which takes place during aboutthirty days or more, it Will, when broken, cleave through the particlesof rock or other earthy material, indicating that the entire mass is ofsubstantially equal strength, where stone, slag or other similar earthymaterial of ordinary strength is used. An inspection of the brokensurface will show that the particles of earthy materia-l are entirelyand com- Examiner comme on PLASTIC.

f eral construction.

pletely embedded in and surrounded by the cement, so that practically noair holes or interstices will be present, save only that the mass willbe interspersed with small cells or cavities c having a smooth roundedsurface, which cells or cavities indicate the spaces from which waterhas been drawn by crystallization.

The product of the present invention differs from certain 'priorproducts, by reason of the presence of such cells or cavities, whichwould be lacking if the mass were subjected to a ressure tending toexpel the water rior tot ecrystallization. The water being 'ghter thanthe other bodies of materials used in the mass, a ressure caused by taming or ramming wou d bring the Water to t e top of the material anddestroy the uniform position of the cells in which the reserve supply ofwater is held. The product of the present invention is superior toordinary tamped concrete, in strength, uniformity, hardness anddurability, and more impervious to the penetration of Water.Furthermore, by dispensing with the tamping or rammin process, thepresent product can be produce more uickly and easily, and will moreperfectly s ape itself to the intended form.

The product of the present invention is especially adapted for use informing the lower or ground layer of sidewalks, an for gen- I claim:

1. A rock-like' substance, composed, in part, of particles of earthymaterial, and having the seams intermediate such parl ticles filled withcrystallized -cement, the

mass having therein cells or cavitiesfttormed by the Withdrawal of waterby crystallizatition, substantially as described.

n i 2. A rock-like substance, composed, in 'l part, of ,particles ofearthy material of graduated sizes,and having the seams intermediatesuch articles filled with crystallized cement, t e mass having thereincells or cavities formed by the withdrawal of Water. by crystallization,substantially asdescribed. 'f

' esta 3. A rock-like substance, com osed, in part, of particles ofearthy materia of graduated sizes, proportionate from the largestparticle the work will permit down to the size of the particles ofcement used, and having the seams intermediate such particles filledwith crystallized cement, the mass having therein cells or cavitiesformed by the withdrawal of water by crystallization, substantially asdescribed.

4. A rock-like substance, composed, in part, of particles of earthymaterial, completely coated with crystallized cement to unite theseamage between the particles, and the mass having therein cells orcavities formed by the withdrawal of water by crystallization,substantially as described.

5. A rock-like substance, com osed, in part, of particles of earthymateria of graduated sizes, completely coated with crystallized cementto unite the seamage between the particles, and the mass having thereincells or cavities formed by the withdrawal of water by crystallization,substantially as Y described.

6. A rock-like substance, com osed, in part, of particles of earthymateria of graduated sizes, proportionate from the largest particle thework will permit down to the size of the particles of the cement used,completely coated with crystallized cement to unite the seamage betweenthe particles, and the mass havin therein cells -or cavities formed bythe wlthdrawal of lWater by crysl ALEXANDER D. NEY'. Witnesses: f

FRANCES M. Faos'r, SAMUEL W. BANKING.

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